Citroen Relay
- Motoring on your terms
Lease type:
£320.00 +VAT per month
Citroen Relay Lease Deals
From £310 Month
Monthly Payment ex VAT
Call Us
ENQUIRE
Get your personalised quote
Call 0118 338 3799
Request a callback
Vehicle Highlights
Citroën’s large van, the Citroën Relay has been around since 2006. A study, steady vehicle, it’s definitely still worth a look for its payload, efficiency, and versatility. The Relay benefited from an engine upgrade too in 2019, and Citroën (or Citroen!) have kept on top of things in terms of technology updates.
Engines and Transmission
If you’re buying used from before 2019 but after 2016, you’ll have the choice of a range of 2.0litre BlueHDi diesel engines in power outputs of 110hp, 130hp, or 160hp. After 2019 and on the 2021 Citroën Relay, you can choose from the newer 2.2-litre BlueHDi engines; these were introduced to meet the more stringent Euro 6.2 regulations. These more recent engines come in just two power outputs: 120hp and 140hp. Both of these post-2019 engines are available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Relay, like most vans now, has an AdBlue tank fitted to help reduce its emissions, specifically the particulate emissions that are such a problem with diesel engines. The tank needs to be refilled usually around every 9000miles or so, but buying the refills and refilling the tank yourself is no big deal.
Its fuel economy is good, especially for a van of its size. It’s relatively lightweight, which helps.
Some drivers do feel that the steering is a little flighty for a van of this size and say that long-distance and motorway driving can become tiring with the effort sometimes required to keep the van going where you want it to. Overall though, the Relay is pleasant enough to navigate.
ë-Relay
Citroen have also introduced the new ë-Relay, the all-electric version of the van. The ë-Relay is available with a 90kW (120hp) electric motor and two choices of battery. The first is a 37kWh with a range of up to 73 miles, and the second is a 70kWh battery that can take you up to 139 miles. The transmission has three positions: Drive, Neutral, and Reverse.
The ë-Relay can be charged from a public charging point or via a dedicated, private charging point installation.
Dimensions
The standard Relay comes in four lengths, three wheelbases, and three roof heights. The ë-Relay is available only in three lengths. The lengths are referred to as L1, L2, etc., and the heights are known as H1, H2, etc. To combine them — say, for instance, you wanted a L3 with an H2 roof — they’re written as L3H2. Hopefully that will make some sense as we get into the numbers!
If you’ve got lots of cargo to load, you might appreciate that the Relay has a very low loading height: one of the lowest in its class. This can be lessened even more with Citroen’s optional, “adjustable pneumatic compensated rear suspension” which allows the rear height to be changed from 70mm to 60mm and back again.
I’ll give you the interior dimensions for everything here, but I’ll also just mention the exterior height in case that could be an issue for you with car parks, low bridges, or particularly vigorous trees in your road.
H1 (that’s roof height #1): 2254mm
H2: 2522mm
H3: 2760mm
And for the interior:
L1H1:
Maximum load length: 2670mm
Maximum load height: 1662mmmm
Maximum load volume: 8m3
The driver’s seat is known for being extremely comfortable and can even be fitted with its own personal suspension system as an optional extra. Passengers, sadly, don’t get quite the same treatment. However, everyone can benefit (probably?) from the extendable, dams-mounted writing desk / securing system for phones and tablets included with some versions of the Relay. It looks a bit like a clipboard but would likely be a bit gentler on your devices.
Regarding trims, there is a range of options for the standard Relay, but the final two (Worker and Driver) are not available for the ë-Relay as of summer 2021.
The trims start with the Relay X (also available in ë-Relay):
- DAB radio
- Bluetooth connectivity, USB port
- Electric windows
- Electrically adjustable twin-lens mirrors: the upper lenses are heated
- Citroën Connect box with telematics and Connect Fleet Services options*
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Remote locking
- Immobiliser
*the Connect box is not available on the ë-Relay
Next, there’s the Enterprise (also available in ë-Relay):
- Alarm
- Air-conditioning
- Parking sensors (rear)
- 5” touchscreen “infotainment” system
- Cruise control with speed limiter (variable)
Then there’s the Driver, designed for people who spend a lot of time on the road:
- 5” touchscreen “infotainment” system
- Lane-Departure Warning system
- Automatic wipers
- Reversing camera
- Automatic dipping / raising headlights (“smart beam”)
- Active Safety Brake
- Extra undercarriage protection
- Multi-season tyres
- Mudflaps (front and rear)
- Reinforced suspension
- Bluetooth connectivity and USB port
- Cruise control
- Grip Control and Hill Descent Control
- Ventilated glove box to keep your sandwiches, salads, or mid-afternoon apple nice and fresh
L2H1:
Maximum load length: 3120mm
Maximum load height: 1662mm
Maximum load volume: 10m3
L2H2:
Maximum load length: 3120mm
Maximum load height: 1932mm
Maximum load volume: 11.5m3
L3H2:
Maximum load length: 3705mm
Maximum load height: 1932mm
Maximum load volume: 13m3
L3H3:
Maximum load length: 3705mm
Maximum load height: 2172mm
Maximum load volume: 15m3
L4H2:
Maximum load length: 4070mm
Maximum load height: 1932mm
Maximum load volume: 15m3
L4H3:
Maximum load length: 4070mm
Maximum load height: 2172mm
Maximum load volume: 17m3
The Relay has a maximum load width of 1870mm with 1422mm between the wheel arches.
Rear doors on the Relay open 180°, and there’s a sliding door on each side. All models apart from the Relay Crew van have a full steel bulkhead fitted as standard. The Crew Van comes in the L3H2 size and has a second row of seats behind the first to give additional passenger-carrying capacity for up to six people. It gives you a maximum load length of 3075mm, a maximum load height of 1932mm, and a load volume of 10.5m3. The Relay Crew Van is great if you need to transport people and stuff, but do be aware that it has a plastic bulkhead rather than a steel one. The plastic is “toughened”, but it’s still not steel.
The standard vans come with load-lashing rings throughout the cargo area to keep your stuff safely where it should be.
GWVs and Payload
The payload is the maximum permitted weight of cargo that you can legally carry, while the vehicle’s GVW (gross vehicle weight) is the full combined legal maximum weight of the van itself, the driver and any passengers, and the cargo. The Relay comes in four different GVWs: 3tonnes (3000kg), 3.3tonnes (3300kg), 3.5tonnes (3500kg), and 4tonnes (4000kg).
There’s a dizzying array of different payloads available for the different body type combinations and GVWs. They range from 1155kg on a L1H1 30 (that would be a van with body length 1, roof height 1, and a GVW of 3tonnes/3000kg) to 1995kg on an L2H2 40 Heavy. The Heavy models have twin rear wheels and a reinforced suspension system.
If precise payload is of importance to you, I’d strongly suggest that you discuss it with your dealer to ascertain exactly which model you need. (Here at Van Sales, we’re very happy to talk about our vans till you ask us politely to stop going on, so don’t hesitate to give us a call!)
The ë-Relay has a maximum payload of a decent 1150kg and a maximum load volume of 15m3.
Reliability
The Citroen Relay is a reliable and well-tested van. It’s been around for ages, and as it’s more or less the same as vans sold by Peugeot (Boxer) and Fiat (Ducato), it’s had plenty of time on the road. In general though, it’s a good idea to make sure you know the full history of any vehicle you’re considering buying second hand. Ask your dealer for any paperwork or invoices that might accompany the van, check the body carefully for signs of damage or repair. Learn as much as you can before you buy, and you’ll have the best chance of making a great purchase.
Safety
As seems to be the case with many vans, the manufacturer only puts basic safety equipment on-board as standard. If you want more, you’ll have to pay for it. While the Driver version and Heavy versions of the Relay have got a bit of extra safety kit, most of what you might want if you’re safety conscious will cost you extra. Still, if you can afford them, extra safety features are worth the extra money. If you’re buying new, have a chat to your dealer to find out exactly what’s possible for your model of van and your budget.
A Great, Useful All-Rounder
The Citroen Relay is an excellent choice overall for a large van that’s efficient and economical to run and that can take almost anything you throw at it. Citroen have made a few efforts to keep repair costs down as well, like making the front and rear bumpers replaceable in parts rather than as whole pieces.
The Relay is also available as a wide variety of conversions — Dropside, Tipper, Luton, and Low Loader — so the chances are that even if you need something a bit beyond the standard panel van or crew cab setup, there’s a Relay for you.
If you’re after a van of this size and think that the Relay might be the one for you, give us a call today at Van Sales. We’ll talk models, trims, and options, and as we do cash sales and finance, we can probably find an arrangement to suit your needs. Whether it’s a Citroen Relay lease, a Citroen Relay finance agreement, or Citroen Relay hire purchase, we can help. And of course, we’re always happy to!
2nd time using Swiss Vans.
Recommended and would use again.
Thanks
Brendan
